She wrote this for her singing partner porter Wagner. They had many songs and she was always on his show.She decided to go solo and didn't want to hurt his feelings.She sang this to him on there show.Thats why she sounds so sincere

"Her version"? It's HER song. If you like her ballads, check out "Love Is Like A Butterfly". This song was written for Porter Waggoner when Dolly decided to leave his show and strike out on her own. Of course, his feelings were a bit hurt and they were estranged for a time. But she helped him financially a few times when he was down on his luck. But of course, this is the kind of lady she is. Beautiful soul, she is!!

As a punk oriented person, I always had great appreciation for Ms. Parton. So raw, so genuine. She's not faking or fronting.

Wonderful and insightful reaction! Dolly wrote this song and sang it live to Porter Waggoner when she left the show to follow her career, that live version has so much emotion rolled into it, I hope you will watch it too (it is on youtube).

This song belongs to Dolly, and I love it! I remember her singing part of it at the end of her tv show each week.

Nobody sings that song like Dolly...❤️

I've always loved this song. Dolly Parton has an amazing voice and she actually wrote this song. While the lyrics sound romantic and sound as if she's talking about a romantic relationship she wrote it about ending a professional relationship when she decided to leave the Porter Wagoner show. And make it out on her own since she'd been on The Porter Wagoner show for 5 years.

I appreciate this magical woman more and more everytime I hear her. What an amazing singer/songwriter.

Dolly always sings from her soul. The fact that she writes the songs is even more touching.

I always thought when Dolly sings this you really hear the story and feel her feelings and the feelings of her lover (even though it wasn’t written for a lover) whereas when Whitney sang it you had to marvel at her powerhouse voice more than the lyrics. Two amazing women who each owned the song. Personally I prefer Dolly’s original version-maybe because I grew up with it-I feel what she’s feeling and feel like I’m living the song. That’s a rare talent and Dolly makes you feel so many of her songs like they’re personal.

The song was written as a ode to mentor and is not about romantic love. In the movie the Bodyguard it is use as a song, about romantic love. Houston's cover copied Linda Ronstadt's 1975 recording, the arrangements are basically the same, they just played with the melody line. Dolly had to phone David Foster, when she learned that Houston/Foster were using Linda recording as a template. Linda did not use the final verse of the song in her recording and Dolly felt it important to the song. Foster said he had to add another 45 seconds to the arrangement...

A beautiful song she wrote for Porter Waggoner. ❤❤❤❤❤

This is the first time hearing Dolly sing this Her version sounds more sincere and intimate So happy to have heard her version

Magic Voice !

Dolly’s version is intimate, as if she is singing directly to someone. Whitney is a powerhouse, and it sounds like she is singing to the room. Both versions are brilliant.

I love both versions but I think of them as different songs. Dolly is singing to Porter Wagoner was hurt that Dolly left his variety show to pursue her solo career. Beautiful beautiful 😊❤️ and of course Whitney was singing to a lover.

I loved Dolly’s when it first came out, soft, heartfelt and sweet. I also loved Whitney’s that was more powerful, like an anthem. Same song, for totally different moods.❤❤

I had seen Dolly when she just started performing. Her image has lasted, a deep impression on me. Once, you have seen the best, you can't replace.

Dolly's version was more personal and intimate. Whitney's was just a showcase for her pipes.

The Porter Wagner Show featured Dolly. As her career began to rise she decided to leave the show. She and Porter were great friends. She wrote this as a tribute to Porter. Great request Craig. Wonderful analysis Harri. She hadn't grown into her big personality when she was on Porters show. Wonderful reaction Harri as always. I never thought of Dolly version being sensual and a undying love.. Dolly said "Whitney made me a lot of money ".

The original by Dolly is my favorite always was and always will be.

One of the best artists there is. I grew up with a mom who was all about Country & Western music. I was introduced to Dolly on the Porter Wagoner Show. I knew this song when Whitney sang it. I saw Whitney Houston in a lounge/restaurant in Anaheim, CA with a piano player about 18 months before she became a big name. We were visiting Disneyland and my parents took us to the restaurant where Whitney was the evening act off in the corner, she did a nice set and people did applaud at the end, and when Whitney became a big name our family was like "that's that singer from the restaurant!". Whitney had a glow even at that restaurant set, we noticed and people noticed that were there.

One of the sweetest ladies you could ever meet and funny

I agree with your reaction.

Dolly is simply one of the best singer/songwriters ever so many of her songs have been used everywhere that is just part of our culture these days.

Yyyyyaaasssszzz lord Jesus..I've been binge watching all of Dolly Pardon for the last 2 weeks and it's awesome...love Loretta Lynn I grew up on her music 🎶 and Patsy Cline was my granpa favorite...Dolly sounds great but she Said she made a lot of money by sending it Whitney Houston..Whitney is so beautiful

The tremble in her voice as she sings the verses really tears at my heart. Beautiful song. I think she has one of the best vocal tone and clarity of any female singer. Her voice sparkles. I put her in the same class as Barbra Streisand, Karen Carpenter and early Judy Garland.

When Dolly Parton sings this song it's like she's singing it to you! When Whitney Houston sang this song it's like she was singing to the world! Someone told me one time that Dolly singing this song. Is not a version of this song, it's the original!

Dolly always sang so purely and since the writing of the song herself, who else could interpret it with the true understanding of the writer. She has written so many songs that went straight to other artists. Her singing is gentle and perfect. It is not just a power ballad like Whitney's. but so fragile yet strong.

I have so much respect for her. She left that little show and really hit it big, yet never turned her back. There's a performance of this song after Porter got sick where Dolly is singing it to him in the audience. She also helped him out when he had money problems.

Dolly is such a treasure.

Dolly has a lovely head voice, and I love her. While I've never been a big Whitney Houston fan, her chest voice makes this song sound epic.

That was the best description of the 2 different versions that I've heard a reactor say yet and I believe you're completely right Dolly's was very intimate and Whitney's is made for a movie as a proclamation of love

Nobody does this song at this level of emotion than Dolly .

She sings it as if she means it, from the heart. She uses it to close her shows, a parting gift to all her fans. It often makes me well up. Shouting it from the rooftops doesn't sound sincere. One of the best versions I've heard was sung in Italian, unfortunately it's not available on you tube at the moment. Perhaps one day...

Dolly could pay the national debt of many countries with the money she made from this one song. What an accomplishment. She’s a ROCKSTAR!!

This is a beautiful song. Thanks Craig. Linda Ronstadt did a gorgeous version of this many years before Whitney Houston made it a hit. Linda’s version is definitely worth a listen. It’s wonderful. Great insights Harri. 🌺✌️

She's every thing you say, Harri. But there's more.... She's also an amazing guitar player, and she does it with verry long nails. Don't know anybody who can do that. Thanks, fantastic stuff indeed 👍👊😁

Yes, you articulated properly! I wish you could have seen this live (I did, back in the day). It was done on the Porter Wagner ( she wrote this song to him) Show and she was sitting down as she sang this! Amazing that she could sing this song while she was seated! Whitney, of course, did a beautiful version of this song but I think Dolly's version has more emotion - which makes sense. Both woman are fantastic as is the song. Thank you. God bless you.

Whitney's version accentuates the singer. Dolly's version accentuates the song.

Whitney Houston's version was fashioned after Linda Ronstadt's 1975 cover of the song, which actor/producer Kevin Costner had heard and recommended for their film.

Finally is an understatement love you

Dolly gives it Heart Whitney gives it soul

Whitney delivered the lyrics with a powerful vocal, Dolly delivered the lyrics with an emotional vocal. Dolly's was sung like someone writing a goodbye letter while crying and Whitney's was more like she is singing it from the standpoint that we had this love, but it's our time to move on and that is a good thing for both of us.

Sees Dolly - enthusiastically smashes Like button!

I appreciate your insight into Dolly Parton's melancholy goodbye to Porter Wagoner when she struck out on her own. It always reminds me of appreciation of an older mentor as "To Sir, With Love" but at a matured level.

¡The ORIGINAL! (And BEST) {Kinda "fitting"; this being posted by YOU, Mr. Best!!!}

Dolly Parton is a class act. Boisterous, loud and fun.

I probably can't add more to the comments. Dolly wrote and sang this to Porter Wagoner. I remember this but didn't know what the significance was at the time.

I wish you’d watched the live version ❤

First off, I LOVE everything about Dolly. She is so talented, as a singer and a song writer. I use to sing this with her as we were driving in the car & I would think of my first love in high school. It was appropriate then and still appropriate when I found out he was dying. We talked for 4 hours & laughed & cried about how our lives had turned out, i sit here with tears running down my cheeks because i really loved him all those years. So this song is really special to me. ❤😢

Dude you are styling in that tie and the backdrop is sic Love you

Craig - This was a truly great one to submit. Dolly Parton is considered to be The Queen of Country music. Dolly wrote this song for her original singing partner, Porter Wagner, and she dedicated it to him by singing it on his TV show. Dolly was not singing this song with the powerful vocal range of Whitney Houston. Dolly wrote and performed this song from her heart and in dedication to Porter, her singing partner, following her decision to begin her solo career. Great review as well, Harri.

As noted below, Dolly wrote this song as gratitude to Porter Wagner when she was leaving his show after 7 years. But, she also sang it in the movie "Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" to Burt Reynolds.

By far my fav. version, but I was born in 64 and heard this become #1 twice via Dolly's releases then again with the movie "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with her and Burt Reynolds, I like both, but I think its meant to be much more sentimental than bombastic.

Dolly wrote this in the 70s as a goodbye to Porter Wagner on whose show she became know, &, decided she wanted to go out on her own. Her leaving caused a huge, ugly rift & lawsuit by porter .

How can anyone not say this is the better version of this song?

Linda ronstadt also did a version of this song, out of the 3 I think her's was the best one.

I heard Dolly say during a TV interview, that long before Whitney recorded this song, she was excited when she got a call from Elvis Presley wanting to record it. She told many of her friends and went to to studio to listen to him record it. She pulled the plug on the deal when Elvis’ manager said Elvis wanted all the credit for the song. Elvis would have done a good job, but Whitney took the song to another level.

Brilliant, isn't it? Raw and genuine emotion. Not in a romantic context either, reminding us that love has many forms. For another raw 'vignette' story song from Dolly, you need to listen to 'Down from Dover'. As a 60s/70s youngster in the U.K. Midlands I only ever heard such songs on the BBC Radio's weekly 'Country Club' (a programme I found by chance on my little transistor radio and was then hooked on for years .....). Three songs that stunned me with their clever storytelling, sincerity in expressing the emotions of relationships that don't work out, for different reasons, and sheer musicality, were Dave Loggins 'Please come to Boston' (which you've reacted to), Dolly's 'Down from Dover' , and Jim Croce's 'Lovers Cross'. I didn't hear any of them again for years, but once heard, never forgotten. You k ow how talented Jim and Dolly were/are, I'm sure you'd enjoy reacting to those latter two songs!

She was in her 20’s when she wrote this as a farewell to her employer in whose show she co-hosted. He wouldn’t let her go- she left anyway!

… This is in fact, a real break up song between her and long time partner Porter Wagner… There are a few KZfaq videos where she sings this song in his presence… Very touching… God bless America …🇺🇸

Dolly wrote this years ago and was thrilled when Whitney Houston sang it

The best version of this song

She sang this to Porter Wagner to tell him she was leaving his show, and he didn't want her to leave. They made a deal that she would leave if he could produce this song.

someone said that when Whitney sings this song she sings it to the world when dolly sings it, it’s to you.

I have always preferred this version sounds much more sincere. You feel the love in her voice.

Thanks for choosing this, Craig. It's by far the best (as well as the original) version of the song and Dolly is such an amazing talent as well as being such a great person.

You are right. When it comes to this song, the saying is, "Whitney sang to the world while Dolly just sang to you (the listener)."

Dolly, Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris did some beautiful collaborations. Whitney Houston's version was vocally powerful but IMO this song is a sweet farewell and needs to be sung with that in mind! I much prefer Dolly's version. She sang it with the meaning it was supposed to convey when she wrote it.

It was more sensitive...It was specially written and showcased on live TV as her goodby to Porter Wagner...

It's been said before, but Whitney sang it like she was singing to the whole world -- Dolly sang it like she was singing it to just you.

She was trying to get Porter Wagner to understand that it was past time for her to go out on her own, he would always tell her no, then she wrote this song to help him understand that it was time and she was going!❤

Whitney Huston did her version for a GIANT movie. Hence the reason that that version comes across as louder. Probably, anyway.

Dolly's song is sung best by Dolly. She did write for others too, but the songs will always reflect Dolly's talent.

I don't know if anyone mentioned this but she wrote ' Jolene ' and this song ON THE SAME DAY !

Dolly once said after she recorded this song she was able to put a lot of money in the bank and after Whitney recorded it, she bought the bank!

We, rightly, associate country music with sentimentality, but Dolly is a soul singer. It is a brilliantly written song, but her vocal is as good as it gets.

Most people remember this song from the movie " The Bodyguard " sung by Whitney Huston but it was sung by Dolly in an earlier movie. She starred with Burt Reynolds in the movie " The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ".

Harri, check out Linda Ronstadt's version too. An interesting contrast between Dolly and Whitney but every bit as gorgeous.

First time I heard this song was in The Best Little W*"#&@house in Texas. It was so sweet in that show.

I first heard and fell in love with Dolly’s Version of “I Will Always Love You” in that scene she’s singing to Burt Reynold in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” Movie. Years later, I finally listened Whitney’s version of “I Will Always Love You” in the Body Guard Movie Clip with English Captions. It took me longer to get used to Whitney’s singing style; she added extra words to the song that were not sung in Dolly’s Original Version of “I Will Always Love You”. Even though Dolly praised Whitney’s Version as Awesome, I still prefer Dolly’s way of singing “I Will Always Love You” the best. 🥰

It meant different things to both artists.

Two interesting Dolly facts: Some time after she and Porter Wagonner split, Porter fell on hard times and was selling his catalog. Dolly bought it and then gifted it back to him. Also, when asked how she felt about Whitney Houston's version of this song, she said she was fine with it, because she owned the rights to it and got paid every time Whitney sang it.

With Whitney, the song was used to showcase the immense power of her vocals and it was done exceedingly well. You come away from that version in awe of Whitney's talent. Dolly's original version makes you focus more on the song itself, delicately delivered. It's kind of like what was done with 'The Sound of Silence' with Disturbed's version using maximum force while S&G's original was more reserved.

Good reaction, Mr. H. Your comparison between this and Whitney's version is good. I especially like your word "sensitive" to describe Dolly's rendition as she was at a very poignant point in her career. I believe she was grateful to Porter Wagner for getting her so far but she realised she had to quit his show in order to advance. Hence her departure was "bitter sweet". There is another Dolly version released in 1982 (8 years after this version) which was recorded for the film "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and is closer to Whitney's version. It has a more perfunctory vocal delivery. Maybe she was feeling less kind towards Porter who sued her for $1m in 1976?? 😮😮

She wrote it in one night as a personal message to Porter Waggoner. And she loved Whitney’s cover.

Whitney sings this to the world. Dolly sings it to you.

❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

NO lover. This song was never about romantic love or leaving a lover which is why in the song she wishes "above all this I wish you love"... When she speaks about love in this song, it's love for a friend and mentor. People are capable of loving someone but not being IN love with them, which is too often forgotten or mistaken.

It's a LOVE letter man

Friends and business associates. She loved him as a friend and always will. But she was moving on to a bigger career than he would. She hated to leave his show because she was the big draw for the program. But she wished him well.

Dolly is speaking directly one on one to the person, Rachel [Whitney] was not in the presence of "Farmer", but in her own mind.

Now you have to hear the version she cut with Vince Gill. She has said it’s her favorite, even over Whitney’s, which made her a whole lot of money.

She’s singing this song with a broken heart.

She actually wrote this song & her other monster hit Jolene on the same day!! She is also Miley Cyrus’s godmother, you should watch some of their duets!! Magical

Whitney's version was a vehicle to show off her abilities. Dolly wrote it from a sweet vulnerable place.

Dolly's version creates an image that she wrote and performed this song with intent that only one person would ever hear it... a sincere heart felt message to him. Whitney's version was with intent that everyone in the world would hear it thus the belting.

Dolly sang this song like a beautiful song bird 🐦. Whitney sang it like a screaming eagle 🦅

Whitney's version is impressive, with her incredible vocal gymnastics. But Dolly's fragile voice fits the song better. You're not supposed to belt it out at 100 decibels.